Machine for forming automobile frames and the like



Dec. 3, 1935. w. F. HEINEMAN 2,022,912

MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

. Warren E Heinemcm ATTORNEY.

Dec. 3, 1935. 4 w. F. H EINEMAN 2,022,912

' MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I/IZ'IIIIIIIIIIIII I INVENTOR. I/l Ezr'r en EHeineman ATTORNEY. I

Dec. 3, 1935.

W. F. HEINEMAN MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed 001:; "r, 1955 e Sheefs-Sheei s INYENTOR. Warren F1 Heirlemcm ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Warren EHez'neman I BY r 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 3, 1935. w. F. HEINEMAN MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Flled Oct 7, 1933 Dec. 3, 1935. w. F. HEINEMAN MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. '7, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Warren FII-Ieinemcm ATTORNEY.

Dec. 3, 1935. w HE|NEMAN 2,022,912

MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBILE FRAMES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct, 7, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

- Warren E Heinman ATTORNEY.

ACCUMULATOR Patented Dec. 3, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,022,912 PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR FORMING AUTOMOBIL FRAMES AND THE LIKE Warren F. Heineman, Shorewood, Wis., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Win, 'a corporation of New York Application October 7, 1933, Serial ,No. 692,583

19 Claims. (01. 15332) v 10 curacy in dimension and shape for any given type of frame is very important to the riding qualities of the car, and an attempt is made in the manufacture of frames to have the completed frames of a given type as near alike as possible.

15 In many instances it becomes expensive to perform the fabricating operations with the accuracy required and to obtain the desired uniformity.

The object of the present invention is to pro- 20 vide a machine which will form a roughly fabricated frame to accurate dimensions and shape.

Another object is to provide such a machine which will form all of the frames of a given size and kind alike.

25' Another object is to provide such a machine with features permitting ready adjustment to accommodate frames of different size and kind.

35 Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine taken on line 3-3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a. side elevation of a hold-down hook; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of at raising jack; Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the raising jack;

' Fig. 7 is atop plan view of a horizontal bending jack;

Fig. 8 is aside elevation of the horizontal bending jack with parts in section toshowthe detail 45 of construction; I

Fig. 9 is an end'elevation of the horizontal I bending jack showing thelocking mechanism for the bending jack:

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a twisting head; 50' Fig. 11 is, a side elevation of the twisting head with parts sectioned to show the detail of construction; a

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal central section of a cross bar bending jack; 5 5 Fig. 13 is a section taken on line l3-i3 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the control mechanism.

The machine, in general, comprises frame ele- 60 vating and transporting mechanism, and a plurality of jacks arranged to operate on a frame simultaneously or in groups to produce the desired'forrning of the frame.

The machine is adapted to set in a recess 1 in the floor 2, and is supported upon two struc- 5 tural beams 3 extending across the recess. The beams 3 support stringers l transversely thereof and which in turn support the machine bed 5.

The machine bed 5 is composed of a plurality of spaced slabs or slats extending longitudinally 10 of the machine and having inverted T-slots 6 therebetween for the purpose of adjustably mounting machine elements on the bed, as hereinafter described.

The frame transporting mechanism comprises 15 a pair of horizontal parallel rails I mounted above the machine for vertical movement and adapted to receive a frame 8 from a conveyor track 9 at one end of the rails, to deliver it to the machine for forming and thereafter to deliver it to another conveyor track Ill at the other endof the rails.

During the conveying of a frame, the rails are supported at a height above the machine which will insure the sliding frame full clearance over all parts of themachine. During operation of the machine upon a frame, the rails are supported just above the bed 5 and sufficiently low to permit the frame to be properly operated upon by the various jacks hereinafter described. The rails I are supported'by a transverse beam II at each, end, by which they are raised and lowered in operation. The beams l I have their ends disposed in vertically extending guideways of the upright channel posts l2 to insure proper vertical movement of the beams and rails.

Each beam i I is supported on pivoted links connected to the ends of cranks l3 secured to a shaft M for limited rotation.

The shafts H are simultaneously rotated a pre- 40 determined amount to raise or lower the rails I, by means of sprockets l5 mounted in alignment on the shafts and a chain It passing over the sprockets and secured at one end to the piston of a fluid pressure cylinder H. The other end of the chain I6 is attached to the periphery of the sprocket farthest from the cylinder ll as shown in Fig. 2. In operation the sprockets I5 rotate in opposite directions to raise the rails 1 and in the reverse directions to lower the rails. The cylinder i1 is so arranged that when fluid pressure is applied thereto the rails l are raised,

.and when the pressure is released the rails lower of their own weight.

Lowering of theraiis 1 drops the frame 8 into 5 position for operation of the machine proper. This comprises a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks and bending devicesmounted on the 1 bed 5.

The frame 8 is supported in pbsition on the bed 5 by means of four stationary jacks I8 which are adjustable to any desired height and location and which may be of any suitable construction. The frame is located by means of vertical guides I9 adjustably mounted on the bed 5 and having outwardly flaring upper .ends 20 for receiving the frame as shown in Fig. 2.

The frame 8 is held down in position for the bending operations by means of fluid pressure 0perated hooks 2| which are mounted on the bed at any desired location.

The hold-down hooks 2|, shown in detail in Fig. 4, each comprises a base 22 clamped to the bed 5 as will be hereinafter described, a vertically extending arm 23 pivoted thereon and a double acting air cylinder 24 pivotally mounted on the base.

The piston of the cylinder is double acting and is pivotally connected by a short horizontal link 25 with the upright arm 23. The operation of the cylinder moves the pivoted vertical arm into and out of upright position adjacent a frame element.

- arm 23 to accommodate any height frame, by any suitable means. The adjustment illustrated is accomplished by a threaded post 21 secured to the arm 23 and extending upwardly parallel thereto. A nut 28' is mounted for rotation on the threaded post 21 and is disposed in a bifurcated portion of the block 26 so that threading of the nut up or, down the post will raise or lower the block as desired.

Cooperating with the hooks2| to give the frame a desired bend are raising jacks 29 mounted on the bed 5 atany; desired location as hereinafter described. As shown, in Figs. 5 and 6, the raising jack 29comprises a hollow frame or casing 30 in which is mounted a hydraulic cylinder 3| and a pair of complementary angular jack blocks 32and33. vJ

The jack blocks 32 and 33 are triangular in section, the upper block 32 being mounted for vertical movement between the upright end 34 of the casing 30 and the inclined surface 35 of the lower block 33, and the lower block being disposed in the casing 30 for horizontal movement to raise or lower the block 32 along the complementary inclined surfaces of the blocks.

The lowerblock 33 is moved horizontally by means of the hydraulic cylinder-3| which has a stationary head: 36 and a movable piston 31 ;connected with t'heblock 33. The stroke of the piston 31 and the consequent upward movement of the jack block 32=is limited by means of an adjustable nut-33 threaded on the short piston rod 39. The nut 38 is disposed to engage a partition 40 in the casing 30 when the piston has reached a predetermined distance in its 1 stroke.

The nut 38 is locked in position on therod 39 by any suitable means. That illustrated has been found to be simple and practical. It consistsin cutting a transverse slot extending half way throughthe nut near one end of it and employing a screw 4| for flexing the thin end portion diagonally opposite corners.

42 of the nut to tighten it on the threads of the rod 39, as shown in Fig. 6.

The upward bending of the frame may be determined to some extent by employing a suitable number of shims 43 on top of the jack block 32 5 as shown more clearly in Fig. 6. For operation the raising jack 29 is located to position the block 32 beneath a frame element at a predetermined location to raise the frame element.

The jack block 32 is lowered by means of an air cylinder 44 at the opposite end of casing 30. This cylinder has a stationary piston 45 through which the air ports 46 extend for operating the cylinder, and a movable head 41. Long rods 48 extend longitudinally through the casing 30, having their 15 inner ends threaded into the jack block 33 and their outer ends passing through lugs 49 on the cylinder head 41 and capped by adjustable nuts 50.

In Fig. 1 four hold-down hooks 2| are shown, 20 two at each end of the frame. Also, two raising jacks 29 are shown positioned at the rear kickup of the frame. Operation of the jacks as shown in cooperation with the hold-down hooks will tend to increase the rear kickup of the frame.

Other arrangements of the hold-down hooks and raising jacks may be employed to meet the need as to any particular frame. For instance, should it be desirable to give the frame as a whole a torsional twist, this may be accomplished by 30 placing two hold-down hooks near diagonally opposite corners and two raising jacks at the other Operation of the jacks will then effect a twisting of the frame a predetermined amount as determined by the ad- 35 justment of the jacks.

of the bolt or removal of the same from the slot.

The bolts are tightened by means of nuts 58 threaded on their upper ends and which hold the clamping elements in position. The same 5 clamping means is employed in securing all jacks and adjustable parts to the bed 5.

The forward end of the base 52 has mounted thereon two stationary piston heads 59 and 60, one facing forward and the other rearward. Fitting over the piston heads 59 and 55 are cylinders GI and. 62, respectively, constituting the double cylinder .54. Fluid pressure, preferably hydraulic, is admitted to the cylinder 6| through a suitable passage 53 in the stationary piston 59 for oper- 60 ating the cylinder while a constant air pressure is admitted to cylinder 62 through a similar passage in head 50..

, The jaw 53 is of U-shape'in the vertical longitudinal plane of the jack'and has an upper rear- 65 wardly extending support 34 above the double cylinder 54 and a lower rearwardly extending support 65 disposed in a guideway 66 in the, lower I is greater than that in cylinder 6|.

Either .stroke of the cylinder may be a power stroke, as desired, depending upon whether a push or pull movement is-required on the frame element. In case a pull stroke is desired, cylinder 62 is connected to the source of hydraulic pressure and cylinder 6| is connected to the source of constant air pressure.

The extent of the stroke of the cylinders and consequent movement of the jaw is limited in each direction by the mechanism 68. A threaded rod 69 extends rearwardly from the support 64 duringrearward movement of the jaw 53, and

adjustment of" the nut determines the rearward stroke of the jaw. Likewise, the position of the nut 12 on the rod 69 determines the engaging of the nut with the extension 10 during forward movement of the jaw 53, and adjustment of this nut determines the forward stroke of the jaw.

After adjustment, the nuts II and 12 may be locked by any suitable means. That illustrated comprises a spring pressed slidable metal strip 13 having a rib 14 on its underside for engagement in slots 15 of the rear nut 12 and having a downward projection 16 at its forward end for engagement in holes 11 in the periphery of the forward nut 1|. The strip 13 may be raised to disengage the same from either nut when adjusting the nuts. The strip 13 is movable with the nuts during operation of the jack and locks the same from rotating on the rod .69.

In Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, several horizontal bending jacks are shown, and it is understood that any suitable number may be employed at the required locations along the frame. As i1- lustrated, a jack 5|, is provided at the forward end of the frame for pulling each side bar outwardly or holding the same against an inward thrust, and a jack 5| is provided. just rear of the second rail 7 for the same purpose. An inwardly thrusting or pushing jack 5| is shown between these two and at the center of the frame on each side to bend the side bars inwardly.

Thus the jacks 5| cooperate with each other in giving a lateral bend to the side bars.

The jacks 5| are also employed in many cases to twist the side bars to a predetermined shape. For this purpose the jaws 53 have adjustable bumper blocks 78 which may be positioned on either side of the U-shaped jaw and at the required height to engage either the top or bottom corner of the side bar during bending. By having the blocks 18 on the two pulling jaws engage the upper left-hand corner or flange edge of the side bar, and the block of the thrust or push jaw engage the lower web corner of the side bar (as shown in Fig. 8), the side bar will be given a twist clockwise. A counter-clockwise twist may be provided if desired.

Twisting of the side bar in this way may be used to counteract and cooperate with the twisting of the end spring hangers as hereinafter described.

Figs. and 11 show the spring hanger twisting mechanism or jack 19. This mechanism comprises in general a base 80, a twisting head 8| operated by a rack and pinion 82, a double cylinder 83 for operating the rack and means 84 for limiting the stroke of the cylinders in both 5 directions.

The twisting head 8| is a rotatable drum having a slot 85 in its outer face for receiving the spring hanger or end of the frame element, and mounted on a horizontal shaft 86 extending trans- 10 verselyof the base 86. The shaft is rotated by means of the rack'and pinion 82.

The rack is connected by a reciprocating frame 81 to the opposite ends of the cylinders 83. The cylinders 83 are of similar construction to the cylinders 54-of the horizontal bending jacks 5|, being capable of connection to exert a power stroke in either direction, and need not be described in further detail.

The mechanism 84 for adjusting and limiting the stroke of the cylinders 83 and the consequent twisting of the head 8| is similar in construction to the mechanism 68 employed for the same pur-. pose in the horizontal bending jacks 5|.

In Fig. 1 a twisting jack I9 is provided for each end of each side bar, and is ordinarily used for turning the spring hanger to align the same with the cooperating spring hanger on the frame.

' Twisting of the entire side bar may be prevented by employing horizontal bending jacks at suitable locations as previously described.

All of the jacks 29, 5|, and 19 as well as the hold-down hooks 2| and stationary jacks l8 are constructed to require a minimum of space, both vertically and also longitudinally of the frame. In the machine constructed each jack requires less than seven inches of space in width, so that a large number of jacks may be mounted along each side of a frame as desired. As-many as thirty different jacks have been employed on a single frame at one time.

In some instances it is desirable to bend a cross bar intermediate its ends either forwardly or rearwardly of the frame. For this purpose a cross bar bending jack 88 is employed.

As shown in Figs. 12 and 13, this jack comprises a short box-like base 89 having its top open at the center, and an upright post' 98 extending through the opening. Inside the box at each end is a circular stationary piston head 9|. The lower end of the post 96 is formed as two cylinders 92 fitting over the pistons 9| and disposed for recipvtion are provided for limiting the movement of the jack in either direction.

The machine is operated by means of a control mechanism illustrated in Fig. 14. This'comprises a plurality of manually operated valves for initiating and effecting movement of the various jacks simultaneously or in predetermined sequence or groups. v i

The elevator cylinder I1 is controlled by valve 95 placed in the fluid pressure feed line 96 and which in its open position admits fluid pressure justed to form a diiferent size or type of frame to the cylinder and in its closed position exhausts fluid pressurefrom the cylinder.-

The air cylinders 24 of the hold-down hooks 2| are operated through lines 91 and 90 from a single air pressure line 99 and are controlled simultaneously by means of the two-way valve I connecting line 99 with lines 91 and 98. 1

The cylinders 3| of the raising jacks 29 are operated simultaneously by a valve IOI in the common fluid pressure feed line I02. The air cyl-' inders 44 of the jacks 29 are connected directly with a source of constant air pressure through feed line I03.

The cylinders 6| of the horizontal bending jacks 5I are controlled by valve I04 in the common fluid pressure feed line I05. Turning of the valve .I04 in one direction admits fluid pressure to the operating cylinder of the jacks through feed line I05, while turning of the valve in the other direction exhausts the operating cylinders. The retracting cylinders 62 are connected to air line I03.

The operating cylinders 83 of the twisting jacks I9 are preferably connected to feed line I06 so as twice operated by means of valve I0'I placed in line I06. The retracting cylinders are connected to air line I03. However, the power cylinders 83 may be connected to the line I05 and be operated simultaneously with the bending jacks 5I by means of valve I04, if desired.

Likewise, the operating cylinders of the cross bar bending jacks 88 are preferably connected to the feed line I05 to be controlled by valve I04 simultaneously with the bending jacks 5!. The retracting cylinders are connected to air line I03.

The valves 95, I00, IOI, I04 and IN are all located within convenient reach of a single attendant and in operating the machine the procedure is preferably as follows:

When a frame 8 has reached the center of the machine on tracks I, the attendant closes valve 95 which exhausts the cylinder I! and allows the tracks to drop, lowering the frame into position between guides I9 until it rests on the stationary jacks I8. Then valve I00 is operated "to move 'the hold-down hooks 2I into position for holding the frame down. Valve IOI is then opened to operate the raising jacks 29 and bend portions of the frame vertically. Reversal of valve IOI then exhausts the operating cylinders of the jacks 29, and the constant airpressure fed through line I03 to the retracting cylinders effects a return of the jacks to normal position.

The horizontal bending jacks 5| and cross bar bending jacks 88 are next operated simultaneously by means of valve I04. After return of these jacks to normal position, the twisting heads I9 are operated and released through valve I01, after which the hold-down hooks 2I are released by reversing valve I00. Then fluid pressure is admitted to cylinder I 'I through valve 95 to raise the frame 8 out of the machine on rails I.

The cycle of operation per frame is short, being of the order. of about seconds, so that the machine is particularly well adapted for factory production work. The machine may be readin a few hours time so that it will meet any need of the factory. The simple construction of the various parts of the machine reduces maintenance and repair costs materially and facilitates adjustment.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims;

I claim:

l. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed and'a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks, some of which are arranged to cooperate in bending an element of 5 the frame in a vertical direction a predetermined amount at a predetermined location, some of which are arranged to cooperate in bending an element of the frame in a horizontal direction a predetermined amount at a predetermined loca- 10 tion and some of which are arranged to twist an element of the frame a predetermined amount at a predetermined location, all of said jacks being 0 adjustable and being mounted adjustably on said bed for cooperation in forming frames of differl5 ent sizes.

2. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, a pluralityof fluid pressure operated jacks, some of which are arranged to cooperatein bending elements of the frame in a vertical direction predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, some of which are arranged to cooperate in bending elements of the frame in a horizontal direction predetermined amounts at predetermined locations and some of which are disposed to twist elements of the frame predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, all of said jacks being adjustable and being mounted adjustably on said bed for cooperation in forming frames of different sizes, and means for operating the jacks for each type of bending operation simultaneously.

3. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending oper 85 ations, means for delivering frames successively to said receiving means, a plurality of jacks adjustably mounted on said bed and disposed to cooperate in performing predetermined bending operations, and means for operating said jacks in cooperative relation.

4. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, a plurality of jacks adjustably mountadjustably mounted on said bed and disposed in opposed relation to cooperate to bend corre-. sponding elements of the frame in a horizontal direction predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, and means for operating said jacks simultaneously.

6. A forming machine for use in manufacturing automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, means adjustably mounted on said bed for bending elements of the 65 frame predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, means adjustably mounted on said bed for twisting elements of the frame predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, and means for operating said bending and twisting means.

'7. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, a plurality of jacks adjust-ably mounted on said bed and disposed to cooperate to bend elements of the frame in a vertical direction at predetermined locations, a plurality of jacks adjustably mounted on said bed and disposed to cooperate to bend elements of the frame in a horizontal direction at predetermined locations, means adjustably mounted on said bed for twisting elements of the frame at predetermined locatio and means for operating said bending jacks and twisting means in cooperative relation 8. A forming machine for usein manufacturing automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, a plurality of jacks adjustably mounted on saidbed and disposed to cooperate in, ending and twisting elements of the frame predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, and means for operating said jacks simultaneously.

' 9. A forming machine for automobile frames and the like, comprising means for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, a plurality of jacks disposed to cooperate to bend elements of thetframe in a vertical direction at predetermined locations, a plurality of jacks disposed to cooperate to bend elements of the frame in a horizontal direction at predetermined locations, means for twisting elements of the frame at predetermined locations, and-meansfor operating said bending jacks and twisting means in cooperative relation.

10. In a, machine for forming automobile frames" and the like, a bed, means for receiving and supporting a frame on said bed for bendin operations, and "a plurality of narrow fluid pressure operated jacks adjustably mounted on said bed for performing bending operations, said jacks being arranged side by side on each side of the frame at predetermined required locations relative to'the frame depending upon the desired bending operations to be performed.

11. In a machine for forming automobile frames and the like, a bed, means thereon for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, a plurality of fluid pressure operated jacks adjustably mounted on said bed for performing bending operations in a plurality of directions, said jacks being narrow in a direction longitudinally of the frame and being arranged side by side on each side of the frame at predetermined required locations relative to the frame for bending the latter in the desired direction at predetermined points, and means for operatin 'erations, means on said bed for performing predetermined bending operations on the frame,

.said means having jaws opening vertically to receive the frame, and means for transferring a frame in a vertical direction to said jaws and for removing the same in a vertical direction therefrom.

13. In a machine for forming automobile frames and the like, a bed, means for receiving and supporting a frame on said bed for bendingoperations, and a plurality of narrow fluid pressure operated jacks adiustablyv mounted on said bed for performing bending operations, said jacks being arranged side by side on each side of the frame at predetermined required locations relative to the frame depending upon the desired bending operations to be performed and having 5 vertically opening jaws for receiving a frame when the latter is lowered into said machine.

14. A forming machine for use in manufacfacturing automobile frames and the like, comprisinga bed, means thereon for receiving a 5 frame, fluid pressure actuated means for holding the frame in position for bending operations, a plurality of fluid pressure actuated jacks for performing bending operations upon the frame, and means for operating said holding means and said jacks in cooperative relation. v

. 15. A forming machine for usein manufac turing automobile frames and the like, comprising means for receiving aframe; fluid pressure actuated means for holding the frame against vertical displacementduring bending operations, a plurality of fluid pressure actuated jacks disposed to cooperate to bend elements of the frame in'a vertical direction, and. means for operating said holding means and said jacks in cooperative 20 relation.

16. A forming machine for use in manufacturing automobile frames and the like, comprising a bed, a plurality of jacks adjustably mounted pluralityof fluid pressure operated jacks dis- $5 posed for bending elements of the frame in different-directions predetermined amounts at pre- 3 determined locations, means carried by said jacks and limiting the relative movement of the opposed pressure-receiving elements thereof to 40 thereby predetermine the amounts of said bend ing movements, and means for operating said jack in successive cooperating groups according to the direction of the bending. I

- 18. A forming machine for use in manufacturing automobile frames and the like, comprising means for receiving and holding a frame for bending operations, aplurality of jacks disposed in opposing relation to cooperate to bend corresponding elements of the frame in a horizontal direction predetermined amounts at predetermined locations, means carried by said jacks and limiting the relative movement of the opposed pressure-receiving elements thereof to thereby predetermine the amounts of said bending movemerits, and means for operating said 'jacks simultaneously. I

19', A forming machine for use in manufac-- turingautomobile frames and the like, comprising abed and a plurality of'jacks, some of which are arranged to cooperate in bending an element of the frame a predetermined amount in one direction at a predetermined location, and

some of which are arranged to bend airelement of the frame a predetermined amount in a different direction at a predetermined location, and means carried by said jacks to limit the amounts of their relative movement in performing the bending, operations, all of said jacks being ad Justable and being adjustably mounted'on said 7 bed for cooperation in forming. frames of different sizes.

WARREN F. 

